Atos has introduced a new Managed eXtended Detection and Response (MXDR) service, tailored for UK entities such as government bodies, critical infrastructure, and financial services organizations that prioritize data sovereignty and regulatory standards.
The service is designed to help these UK organizations maintain strict control over their sensitive security data amid the increasing challenges posed by high-profile cyber breaches and regulatory demands.
Emphasizing Data Sovereignty
Distinct from conventional managed security services, which often require customer data to be transferred for analysis, Atos employs Microsoft Azure’s delegated access system to ensure data remains within the customer’s infrastructure. The approach is supported by AI-powered, 24/7 surveillance conducted by security-approved UK professionals from its new Sovereign Delivery Centre based in the UK—ensuring operational sovereignty remains intact.
Terry Bebbington, Head of Cyber, Atos UK&I, highlighted the importance for UK entities to find a partner who comprehends local threats, regulations, and business requirements, stating, "Our sovereign MXDR service delivers cyber resilience by combining decades of UK security experience with AI-powered threat detection and truly sovereign operations."
Comprehensive Integration and Local Expertise
Atos’s UK security operations include its SOC, threat intelligence, and incident response teamsThis service incorporates elements of Atos's long-standing UK security operations encompassing their Security Operations Centre (SOC), threat intelligence, and incident response teams. These teams have safeguarded UK infrastructure for over 15 years.
The integration is characterized by AI-driven analytics and automated response playbooks which facilitate rapid threat detection and containment, with operations managed exclusively by UK personnel based in UK facilities, offering resilience across various regions.
Aligning with Evolving Regulatory Demands
The unveiling of this service accompanies rising pressures for organizations to meet new regulatory expectations around operational resilience, especially in financial services facing novel Bank of England rules and critical infrastructure responding to enhanced NIS regulations. Atos's solution enables organizations to harmonize security efficiency with stringent data localization requirements.
As sovereignty becomes an essential boardroom consideration, demonstrating sovereign security operations is crucial for satisfying regulators, shareholders, and the UK government. Atos provides this level of assurance by keeping client data within their environment, overseen by vetted UK personnel employing AI-driven security orchestration without reliance on offshore facilities.
The Atos MXDR service is now accessible through Crown Commercial Service frameworks, with various UK government departments and critical infrastructure operators already engaged in planning for deployment.
Atos, a global pioneer in AI-powered digital transformation, launched a Sovereign Managed eXtended Detection and Response (MXDR) service specifically designed for UK government, critical infrastructure, financial services, and other UK organizations requiring stringent data sovereignty and regulatory compliance.
The new AI-powered MXDR service addresses mounting pressure on UK organizations to demonstrate complete control over sensitive security data, providing assured confidence following high-profile breaches through third-party security tools and growing concerns about access to UK infrastructure data.
A different approach to sovereignty
Unlike traditional managed security services that must copy or move customer data for analysis, Atos’ unique approach leverages Microsoft Azure’s delegated access architecture, ensuring data never leaves the customer’s environment. Combined with AI-enhanced 24/7 monitoring by security-cleared UK personnel operating from its new UK-based Sovereign Delivery Centre, this creates operational sovereignty without compromising security effectiveness.
“UK organizations need more than just security monitoring – they need a partner who understands UK threats, UK regulations, and UK business requirements,” said Terry Bebbington, Head of Cyber, Atos UK&I. “Our sovereign MXDR service delivers cyber resilience by combining decades of UK security experience with AI-powered threat detection and truly sovereign operations. This enables organizations to confidently defend against evolving threats whilst meeting their sovereignty and compliance obligations.”
Service integration
The service integrates Atos’ established UK security operations – including Security Operations Centre (SOC), threat intelligence, and incident response teams that have protected UK infrastructure for over 15 years – into a single sovereign delivery model.
AI-driven analytics and automated response playbooks accelerate threat identification and containment, while all operations, from initial detection through forensic investigation, are conducted by UK nationals from UK facilities, with resilience across multiple UK regions.
Meeting new regulatory expectations
The launch comes as organizations face increasing pressure to address evolving regulatory expectations around operational resilience and third-party risk management, particularly financial services under new Bank of England rules and critical infrastructure due to updated NIS regulations. The Atos service enables organizations to maintain security effectiveness whilst meeting stringent data localisation requirements.
With sovereignty now a boardroom issue, organizations must demonstrate to regulators, shareholders and government that their security operations are sovereign. The Atos MXDR service provides that assurance with complete transparency – customer data remains in their environment, monitored by cleared UK personnel using AI-powered security orchestration, with no offshore dependencies.
The service is available immediately through Crown Commercial Service frameworks, with UK government departments and critical infrastructure operators already engaged in deployment planning.
